32nd Place
41 Points
32. Norman Whiteside (32)
First Division Appearances - 193 (13)
Overall Appearances - 256 (18)
First Division Goals - 47
Overall Goals - 67
Position - Midfield/Striker
Coming in at thirty second place for the second time on this list, Whiteside has one of the more varied careers out of any players on the list. First team player at 16. Retired aged 26. Norman Whiteside had a tumultuous footballing career filled with highs and lows, but definitely did enough to be remembered as a Manchester United legend.
As Ron Atkinson's first season of Manchester United come to an end Norman Whiteside was handed his début at just 16 years of age. He became United's youngest player since the legendary Duncan Edwards. His second appearance came against Stoke in 2-0 win in which he scored, entering the record books as Manchester United's youngest scorer aged just 17 years and eight days old. The following season his impressive performances at the World Cup saw him become a first team regular and he missed only three games that season, taking part in 57 out of Manchester United's 60 games. Part of the reason for such a large number of games was United's impressive cup performances, and Whiteside scored in both the FA Cup and League Cup final, helping United to a FA Cup trophy in a 4-0 win over Brighton (He is still the youngest player to score in either an FA Cup or League Cup final).
He would repeat his cup heroics in subsequent seasons, scoring in the 1985 Cup Final against Everton, a goal that would win him the goal of the season award. The two FA Cup trophies were to be his only medals throughout his seven years at Manchester United and injuries really started to hamper his footballing career. As Sir Alex Ferguson took over in 1986 Whiteside found his first team opportunities limited by recurring injuries, including a spell in which he missed almost a year in the 1987/88 season. Ferguson became tired of his injuries and sold the player to Everton, where once again he was incapable of recovering from his knee injuries and retired age 26. He had played for almost a decade with no cartilage in his right knee to absorb the impact felt in a football match. To this day he claims he has never kicked a football again. Nevertheless Whiteside was held in great esteem by the Manchester United faithful and he did well enough to earn a high space on this list.